Monday, January 28, 2008

Brave Legislators?

That our Legislature would seriously debate the extent to which the inner workings of government should be transparent is a victory for those who have long believed that accountability in a democracy must be measured by the level to which the average citizen - not journalists, or a favored few - has access to the halls of power.

For that we can thank a few lawmakers courageous enough to champion change - slow but steady, in the case of Sen. David Knudson and Rep. Larry Rhoden; fast and dramatic, in the case of Sen. Nancy Turbak Berry.

Is it really that brave for these few to be working on something that should have long since been fixed? But then again considering our elected officials seem to be quite happy at being last in everything, maybe this is somewhat courageous...

UPDATE: And while Beck is patting some on the back, others in Pierre are stabbing us in the back.

PIERRE — A South Dakota Senate committee has endorsed a proposal that would allow members of a state or local government board to attend the meeting of another government board without giving public notice. The Local Government Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for further debate.

The state’s open meetings law requires that state and local boards, commissions and other agencies must give public notice 24 hours before holding a meeting.

SB199 would provide that when members of a board attend the meeting of another board to observe or to provide information, they would not have to provide public notice.